EFL to make major change to play-off schedule that could impact Derby County

Derby County news: Rams are in 12th place and just five points shy of the play-offs and will want to take note of what the English Football League (EFL) have planned for the play-offs

The League One and League Two play-offs will be staged much earlier than the Championship play-offs to help ease the financial burden on lower-league clubs.

Derby County will be keeping a keen eye on how the play-off schedule develops, with Phillip Cocu 's side eyeing a late charge to the top-six.

The Rams are edging closer to a return to action after the Premier League's return from a break enforced by the coronavirus pandemic was pencilled in for June 17.

Derby moved up to 12th in the Championship table following their last game, the 3-0 defeat of Blackburn Rovers on March 8, a result that put them within five points of the play-offs.

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The Championship looks set to return next month with the English Football League (EFL) still to decide what happens with Leagues One and Two.

League Two clubs have already voted to curtail their season, whilst League One remain locked in talks.

The third-tier are hopeful of reaching a resolution over the next two weeks, whilst the Championship is expected to resume shortly after the Premier League on June 17.

However, there will be one key change to the football calendar, with the play-off matches set to be scheduled at different times, regardless of potential curtailment, according to the BBC.

The play-offs across all three EFL tiers are usually played out with the fixtures in close proximity, with the play-off finals staggered across the bank holiday weekend at the end of May, from Saturday to Monday.

However, this year, the League One and League two play-offs will be held before the Championship, due to the ongoing financial uncertainty for clubs.

EFL chairman Rick Parry revealed there will be a £200 million black hole for football clubs to fill by September, whilst the Premier League confirmed there would be no rescue package for the EFL any time soon.

With League One and League Two clubs set to release hundreds of players when their contracts expire on June 30, the EFL are keen to have the play-offs sewn up before then, to avoid any further financial strain.

As a result, the report claims to play-offs will be concluded as soon as practically possible, although a formal vote to curtail the League One season is yet to occur.

Derby propelled themselves toward the top-six after back-to-back wins for only the second time in 2019-20.

They followed up a win at Sheffield Wednesday with that home drubbing of Blackburn.